Army Corps of Engineers · West Thompson Lake · N. Grosvenordale, CT

West Thompson Lake Campground

West Thompson Lake Campground is located near the wooded shoreline of its namesake lake in northeastern Connecticut. The natural setting surrounding West Thompson Lake can be enjoyed year round. Visitors come to the lake for camping, fishing, boating, kayaking and hiking.

Reservable · Recreation.gov24 sites40 ft maxElectric hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: electric hookups in Connecticut · reservable in Connecticut · big rigs in Connecticut · pets allowed in Connecticut

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
West Thompson Lake CampgroundWest Thompson Lake CampgroundWest Thompson Lake Campgroundgatehouse bird
Photos courtesy of USACE · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric11
Standard, no hookups11
overnight shelter nonelectric2
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

24 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntrySurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
01ElectricBack-inGravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
02ElectricBack-inGravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
03ElectricBack-inGravelPartialYesYes / –6 / 2Yes
04ElectricBack-inGravelPartial15 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
05ElectricBack-inGravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
06ElectricBack-inGravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
07ElectricBack-inGravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
08ElectricBack-inGravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
09ElectricBack-inGravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes
10ElectricBack-inGravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length40 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The entrance gate to the campground is closed from 9pm - 8am. The campground offers 11 campsites with electric and water hookups, 11 basic sites without hookups and two Adirondack lean-to shelters. Amenities include accessible flush toilets and showers, and a dump station. An amphitheater, playground, basketball court, and interpretive trails are located on-site.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near West Thompson Lake Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.78 inches of precipitation, 10.6 inches of snowFebruary: 3.53 inches of precipitation, 11.6 inches of snowMarch: 4.45 inches of precipitation, 7.2 inches of snowApril: 4.57 inches of precipitation, 1.5 inches of snowMay: 3.43 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.48 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 4.02 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 4.24 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.91 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 4.77 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowNovember: 4.18 inches of precipitation, 0.9 inches of snowDecember: 4.72 inches of precipitation, 6.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 24.9°F averageFebruary: 27.1°F averageMarch: 34.9°F averageApril: 46.2°F averageMay: 56.8°F averageJune: 65.3°F averageJuly: 71.1°F averageAugust: 69.2°F averageSeptember: 62.0°F averageOctober: 49.9°F averageNovember: 40.2°F averageDecember: 31.0°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at W Thompson Lake, 1 mile from the campground at 360 feet, station USC00069388 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 50 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 39 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From I-395, take Exit 50. Follow CT Route 200 east to Thompson Center. Turn right onto CT Route 193 south and proceed 2 miles to traffic light. Continue straight over the railroad tracks on Route 12. Take the first right onto Reardon Road.

Nearest townN. Grosvenordale, Connecticut
Coordinates41.9556° N, 71.8991° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceAirstream of Connecticut ↗13.2 mi
Outdoor gearThe Bird Store and More ↗14.9 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

West Thompson Lake Campground Sites

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is nestled in a forest of Eastern white pine, Northern red oak and Shagbark hickory. Shade is abundant throughout the campground, and autumn leaves put on a beautiful show. An overlook at the dam offers pleasing panoramic views for sightseers and photographers.

Recreation

West Thompson Lake provides great boating, kayaking, canoeing and fishing opportunities. It has an excellent population of warm-water fish, including bass and small panfish. A boat ramp is located near the campground for easy access to the water. The Thompson Section of the Quinebaug River Water Trail offers a leisurely three-hour outing for paddlers who are comfortable with moving water. The trail has no rapids or portages and meanders through extensive wildlife habitats. An 18-hole disc golf course is located on the lakeshore and is free to the public. This challenging course is known for its long drives and scenic views of the lake and dam.

Guidebooks for Connecticut

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Appalachian Trail Guide to Massachusetts-Connecticut
    Sue Spring, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Connecticut and Rhode Is
    Rhonda and George Ostertag, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • 50 Hikes in Connecticut
    Mary-Anne Hardy, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at West Thompson Lake Campground?

Sites at West Thompson Lake Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at West Thompson Lake Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does West Thompson Lake Campground have?

24 sites, including 11 standard sites with power, 11 standard sites without power, and 2 overnight shelter nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at West Thompson Lake Campground?

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does West Thompson Lake Campground have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at West Thompson Lake Campground?

Amenities include accessible flush toilets and showers, and a dump station.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at West Thompson Lake Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at West Thompson Lake Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at West Thompson Lake Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at West Thompson Lake Campground?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at West Thompson Lake Campground?

West Thompson Lake provides great boating, kayaking, canoeing and fishing opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to West Thompson Lake Campground?

N. Grosvenordale, Connecticut.

Source: Getting there

What if West Thompson Lake Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Indian Hollow (55.5 mi) and Surry Mountain Lake Campground (75.4 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby